April Pet Dental Special

Emergency Care

We see emergencies during our normal hospital hours. Please call us at (708) 331-4640 for immediate assistance. If your pet has an after-hours emergency or if we determine that your pet requires overnight nursing care or a level of specialty we cannot provide here, we will coordinate your pet's referral to the appropriate critical care or specialty hospital.

Is Your Pet Experiencing a Medical Emergency?

It is Saturday afternoon and your pet starts vomiting and has diarrhea. Do you wait for Monday morning or go to an animal emergency clinic?

The following information is to help prepare you for an emergency and what to do when one arises.

Before an emergency occurs, BE PREPARED.

Know where your local emergency clinics are located and have their phone numbers programmed into your phone or on a call list by your phone. A few recommended local animal emergency clinics are listed above.

Visit the emergency veterinary clinic before an emergency occurs so you know ahead of time where you must go.

Keep an emergency kit in the bathroom just for your pet. This should include a copy of vaccine records and what medications your pet is currently on.

What constitutes an emergency?

Breathing in distress or uncontrolled coughing

Trauma:

Acute swelling

Wound or cuts that cause excessive bleeding

Bite wounds (dog, raccoon, fox, snake, insect etc.)

Hit by a car

Ingestion of toxins or foreign objects

Pet unable to stand

Uncontrolled shaking (seizures)

Vomiting and/or diarrhea that is uncontrolled

Eye problems of any kind

Pet crying out or not allowing you to touch them

What should you do before leaving your house?

Call the emergency clinic and discuss your pet's condition with a staff member to determine if your pet should be seen and/or prepare them for your arrival.

Wrap bleeding areas and apply gentle pressure to decrease blood loss.

If your pet is not walking and is too large to carry, place him or her on a blanket to use as a stretcher.

If your pet has ingested a poison, DO NOT attempt to make them vomit unless instructed to do so.

While on the way to the emergency clinic...

Stay Calm. This will help you concentrate on driving safely and help to keep your pet calm.

Get Help. Have another family member or neighbor go with you. This will allow one person to drive and one to watch your pet closely.

Keep Quiet. Your stress and vocalization will cause your pet to become more stressed.

Keep Warm. When a pet is in shock, their body temperature falls and can go into hypothermia.

DRIVE CAREFULLY

Remember, not all emergencies are life-threatening and emergency clinics will see the most critical cases first, so you may have to wait to be seen. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to call us at (708) 331-4640.